Protests Besiege Nusra Front in Damascus’ Eastern Ghouta

Beirut- The US-led coalition against ISIS is aware of the coordination between the Syrian regime, Russia and the Kurds in northeastern Syria, a senior Kurdish official told Asharq Al-Awsat, pointing out that the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces are working on a plan to liberate Raqqa from ISIS within two weeks.

The progress of the SDF, supported by the coalition on one hand, and the regime forces, backed by Russia on the other, has led to coordination between the parties fighting ISIS.

The Kurdish official said that Washington does not oppose the presence of military chambers for coordination between the Kurds, the regime of Bashar al-Assad and Russia.

In this context, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said: “Backed by the US-led coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces have waged a months-long offensive on Raqqa and have successfully captured half of the city.”

Meanwhile, Syrian regime troops, with Russian air support, have entered the last ISIS stronghold in the country’s Homs province after militants began withdrawing.

Al-Sukhna, some 70 kilometers northeast of the famed ancient city of Palmyra, is of a strategic significance since it is the last town on the road to the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, most of which lies under ISIS control.

On the other hand, protests against al-Nusra Front have taken place in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta, which has witnessed confrontations between Faylaq al-Rahman and Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS), formerly known as Nusra Front, coinciding with attempts to expand truce to include central and western Ghouta.

In an official statement, HTS accused the fighters of Faylaq al-Rahman of killing one of its fighters in eastern Ghouta.

In the statement, HTS claimed that a group of Faylaq al-Rahman gunmen attacked one of its fighters in Hamuriya town during his return from the Jobar front.

The statement added that Faylaq al-Rahman members then chased him and killed him in his home.

HTS claimed that Faylaq al-Rahman has carried out several such attacks on HTS fighters.

The statement added that HTS informed the leadership of Faylaq al-Rahman several times, and the leaders pledged to resolve the problem, but didn’t keep their promises.

In response to the HTS statement, Wael Alwan, spokesman for Faylaq al-Rahman, told opposition media: “HTS element has nothing to do with the fronts or fighting, he was a security man who was walking with his arms in Hamuriya town.”

“He attacked one of Faylaq al-Rahman elements then he was stalked by a patrol of Faylaq al-Rahman, where he hid in a building under construction and fired at them, which forced them to deal with the situation and kill him,” Alwan added.

He also said that HTS abuses were repeated more than once in Ghouta.

HTS held Faylaq al-Rahman responsible for this “heinous crime” and demanded that the killers be handed over immediately.

Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities. Launched in London in 1978, Asharq Al-Awsat has established itself as the decisive publication on pan-Arab and international affairs, offering its readers in-depth analysis and exclusive editorials, as well as the most comprehensive coverage of the entire Arab world.